CAAP closes Iloilo int’l airport after Cebu Pacific runway incident

By VJ Bacungan/CNN Philippines – Air transport authorities have temporarily shut down the Iloilo International Airport after a Cebu Pacific plane overshot the runway on Friday night.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) issued a “Notice to Airmen” saying the airport will be closed until around 7 p.m. Sunday.

“CAAP is doing its best to extract the aircraft so that flights will be normalized soon,” it said. “We ask the public for understanding as ensuring passengers safety and security is paramount in maintaining our airports and skies safe for travel.”

All passengers safe

Cebu Pacific 5J 461, an Airbus A320 with 180 passengers and six crew members onboard, overshot the runway and veered into a nearby rice field due to heavy rains that brought strong winds.

The CAAP and Cebu Pacific said all the passengers and crew members on the plane were evacuated and are safe.

The flight left the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila at 10 p.m. Friday and landed at in Iloilo around 11:15 p.m.

In a Facebook video, Ilonggo Pastor Henry Senina showed they stayed inside the plane for 20 minutes before exiting through the emergency slide.

“Praise the Lord,” he said. “Galing ako nag speak sa Pastor’s conference sa Batangas. Akala ko that was my homegoing with the Lord. I led a thanksgiving prayer inside the plane while waiting for the Rescue.”

[Translation: I came from a speaking engagement at a Pastor’s conference in Batangas. I thought that was my homegoing with Lord. I led a thanksgiving prayer inside the plane while waiting for rescue teams.]

Cebu Pacific said it is working with authorities to clear the runway and to investigate the incident.

Cancelled flights

Cebu Pacific also said it will deploy flights and provide transportation to and from Roxas City, some 110 km away from Iloilo, to accommodate passengers.

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